Physical activity and lung function decline in adults with asthma: The HUNT Study

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Asthma management often involves advice on physical activity, but its impact on lung function decline is not fully understood.
• Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) is a modifiable behavior with potential benefits for respiratory health.
• Understanding the association between LTPA and lung function decline is crucial for guiding patients with asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between leisure time physical activity and the rate of lung function decline in adults diagnosed with asthma.
• To quantify differences in lung function decline between physically active and inactive individuals with asthma.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort study was conducted in Norway, including 1329 adults with asthma.
• Lung function parameters including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured over a mean follow-up of 11.6 years.
• Annual mean decline in lung function was estimated using multiple linear regressions, comparing participants who reported light or hard physical activity (active) with those who reported no activity (inactive).

Main Results:

• Inactive participants showed a mean annual decline of 37 mL/year in FEV1, compared to 32 mL/year in active participants (difference: -5 mL/year).
• The mean annual decline in FEV1/FVC ratio was 0.36%/year for inactive and 0.22%/year for active participants (difference: -0.14%/year).
• Active participants also exhibited slightly slower decline in peak expiratory flow (PEF) (10 mL/year vs. 14 mL/year).

Conclusions:

• Physically active adults with asthma demonstrated a trend towards slower lung function decline compared to their inactive counterparts.
• The observed benefits were particularly noted for FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and PEF, suggesting a protective effect of LTPA.
• These findings support recommendations for regular physical activity in asthma management to potentially preserve lung function over time.